Listener 4078: The Fragmentation of Reality by Lavatch

[Zabadak]

This one's a gem: don't be put off by the complex instructions or that fearsome 65,536 possible combinations: It all comes out well in the end. Good, fair clues, some lovely PDM's, and a satisfying final resolution. And I learned some stuff that I didn't know (to my shame) about the main theme. I especially liked the character that needs to be ringed - thats a doozy that I've not seen used before: does anyone know of an instance?
I'm also interested to know whether the title has a particular reference to the subject: I can find one isolated connection, but a fair bit in the general vicinity.

[easterfool]

Jogler
Please - use [email protected]

[Philoctetes]

Completely and utterly off topic. But i have just got my 2009 statistics (thanks Mr Green - very quick turn around as usual). Nine incorrect, so I am getting better. Must learn to check my jumbles more closely. And highlight!

[dr b]

On the assumption that all interested parties have more or less gotten the theme here (if not, SORT-OF SPOILER ALERT), Turner Classic Movies (a cable channel here in the US - don't know if you get it across the pond) showed both thematic titles last night, no doubt in honor of the birthday mentioned above. I was able to watch the first title for about 5 minutes before the lack of explosions or gratuitous nudity caused to me change the channel.

[Apache4D]

Hi all, not usually able to post on here due to a self imposed restriction like many, of not coming on here till I've finished, which usually means that by the time I'm done, eveyone has moved on to the next listener/thread!!!

Anyhow after long largely arduous labours over 4077 found this one really enjoyable, had me hooked from the outset!! Like everyone here enjoyed every step and couldn't help by chuckle at the ringed character, ingenious!!

The only trouble I have after completing is that my clashes involved with the two four letter words does not contain the correct letter to complete the element!! The two aforementioned clues are so self justifying that I cannot fathom that they are wrong, but all other clashes are resolved satisfactorily?!

Anyhow have entered the correct letter and all seems well just hate having a hole in my understanding makes me feel I've not finished :-( am I going mad?

Apache4D

[Apache4D]

Oh dear!!! should have known posting would prompt me to resolve the issue!! Had second and third characters of the across clue swapped, which I thought satisfied the clue just as well, ok a little bit tenuous perhaps...phew now I can rest till 16:00 Friday!

[Ruthrobin]

Apache4d Good to have you back. Look carefully at those two definitions that you had transposed - I wonder how many of us got those two letters wrong - and, of course, it makes sense of the Not 1 in the clue when you sort it out!

[easterfool]

Apache4d I know how you feel. I usually finish (sometimes start) after the next Listener has come online. Sometimes I feel that I am likely to be talking into the wild blue yonder. Perhaps we should have an agreement to keep looking until the solution comes out when we can look and feel that great annoyance of realising that it was all much easier than we thought

[Apache4D]

Thanks for your encouragement RuthRobin am here in spirit if nothing else!! Apologies but I failed to explain my previous dilemma...It was 20 across that I had swopped the second and third letters of the answer around making what I initially thought was a sensible answer but obviously didn't contain the crucial letter in the clash!! All sorted now and am happily retracing my steps as enjoyed it so much! Last week was a struggle for me and without a denouement to look forward to my enthusiasm wained. This week however I was rapt, and despite a week from hell at work still managed to complete!!

Don't you just love and hate the wait to the next listener in equal measure!!

[Apache4D]

Agree EasterFool, am often frantically trying to finish off one crossword with the new one burning my back pocket!! Then it feels pointless to post about old news.

So the only thing left to do is enjoy reading everyone elses travails, check my scanned entry against the new solution for transcription errors, have a chuckle at George Vs. then crack on with the new grid!

[nigel2]

Everything fully understood and very enjoyable theme. Am I right in thinking that the final ringing required relates to an abbreviation for the "figure" in one of the titles or is something different required?

[Ruthrobin]

Right Nigel2

[AndrewG-S]

nigel2, you are not alone I have all done apart from the final ringing of the character. I have the awful feeling that I am going to feel very slow when I finally spot it

[Zabadak]

Andrew: it's so delightful it would be a shame to miss it. 2 questions. What are the full titles of the elements from set B? One of them has not been entered in full. Which light have you put it in?

[AndrewG-S]

Not sure how rhetorical your questions were. But I have one of the titles from Group B not entered in full - I have two alternatives for the missing words depending on language. And a choice between 1a and 7d for the light, with a leaning towards 7d

[catstail]

Andrew and Nigel - think about exactly what are you trying to find and think laterally. What would you do as a setter with a (logical) sense of humour?
Hope this helps without giving too much away. You will know when you find it. I agree with RuthRobin - it is worth finding.

[catstail]

Sorry, Zabadak. Relied om memory when I should have scrolled down to check.

[Zabadak]

Now why would it be 7d? (Ring your answer)

[Archie1962]

Despite having solved all the clues and having read this entire thread, I am still stuck at 65,536 possible solutions! I've completed most of the Listeners this year so maybe I am just having a bad week. I'm writing this in the hope that the penny will drop when I click Submit, like it seems to have done for some of you.

[Zabadak]

Archie: If you have all your A answers, you should have 8 clashes. I got to the required element by listing them in pairs in the most sensible order, which gave rise to one recognisable word and anreadable jumble. Once you have the word, have a look at the Wiki entry and you should be able get the jkeys to unlocking the rest of this piece.

[Zabadak]

"anreadable" should be "an unreadable". Sorry!